Maslansky produced an earlier version of the movie in 1978 — better known as “Circle of Iron” — with the late Sandy Howard. He secured rights to the project from Howard’s widow, Arlene Howard.

Maslansky’s son, Sasha Maslansky, is writing the new screenplay based on Lee’s original treatment. Bey Logan, Sasha Maslansky and Kurt Fethke will serve as producers, with David Tadman and Steve Kerridge also attached to the project as co-producers.

“‘The Silent Flute’ will be an epic martial arts adventure film that promises to honor Bruce Lee’s original artistic and philosophical conception,” said Paul Maslansky, who is exec producing. “It also promises to reach new levels of action and adventure never before seen in martial arts filmmaking.”

“Circle of Iron,” centered on a martial artist rebel — portrayed by Jeff Cooper — on a quest for the “Book of Enlightenment” and the various trials that educate him in Zen philosophy. Bruce Lee had written a part for himself as a reluctant mentor, which was played in the film by David Carradine; Christopher Lee, Roddy McDowall and Eli Wallach also appeared.

ATV will broadcast this year’s HKFA Presentation Ceremonies Sunday night live and with no delay. They have promised not to cut acceptance speeches of rival artists from TVB. TVB in the past has been criticized for not broadcasting acceptance speeches of their rival artists from ATV. Last year, Paw Hee-Ching’s speech was cut short when she publicly thanked ATV. Also, when previous awards shows ran over the scheduled time, the broadcast simply ended drawing the ire of television viewers. (Sina) 2009: What was kept on and what left off? (ESWN) In CCTV’s rebroadcast of the 2009 awards, they eliminated Tang Wei’s Best Newcomer presentation to Xu Jiao.

Two more sneak into Toronto lineup
The Toronto International Film Festival on Thursday made two last-minute bookings for Iranian director Hana Makhmalbaf’s “Green Days” and “The Warrior and the Wolf,” a combat epic from Chinese director Tian Zhuangzhuang.

Taipei Times: Hear Me review
A love story in silence
Blatant product placement for the Taipei City Government mars an otherwise enjoyable boy-meets-girl tale

Taipei Times - short takes

Let’s Fall in Love (尋情歷險記)
Also making use of Chinese Valentine’s Day is this up-close-and-personal Taiwanese documentary enjoying a proper release with a new promotional campaign. Twenty-odd married couples come under the spotlight with their relationship problems and weaknesses, together with the intriguing matchmaker-counselor whom all of them share. From award-winning director Wuna Wu (吳汰紝), who had to solicit hundreds of small investors to get this film into theaters.

The Forbidden Legend: Sex & Chopsticks 2 (金瓶梅2：愛的奴隸)
Sweaty and kinky sex for its own sake is a rare bird on the Taiwanese big screen these days. We haven’t had a soft porn extravaganza since, well, the original Sex & Chopsticks late last year. Japanese hardcore actresses Hikaru Wakana (with head still shaved), Kaera Uehara, Serina Hayakawa and Yui Morikawa secure another Hong Kong work visa to tell, for the umpteenth time, the misadventures of barely robed courtesans. But tableware fetishists will likely feel misled all over again; the Chinese title (“The Golden Lotus 2: Slaves of Love”) is more faithful to what’s on show.

Rookies: Graduation
And so, back to a movie based on a Japanese manga. A bunch of good-for-nothing punks regain self-respect and team spirit after their charismatic high school teacher shapes them into a formidable baseball team. This is a theatrical follow-up to a TV series based on the popular manga series Rookies. But unless you’re a baseball tragic or swoon at the sight of “bad boys” with trendy shocks of hair and perfect skin, this attempt at inspiration won’t mean a pitcher’s mound of beans. The Bad News Bears it ain’t.

KJ (音樂人生)
The poster for this Hong Kong documentary says it all: a boy sitting alone in an auditorium. The boy is “KJ,” a brilliant pianist with a bright future in store, though the film covers much wider, and occasionally darker, ground, which makes it an ideal companion to Four Minutes. With respected director Ann Hui (�?�) as consultant, this study of individual genius in a society that tends to stifle it has the stamp of quality. Six years in the making, KJ is screening exclusively at the Wonderful Cinemas complex in Taichung.http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2009/08/28/2003452150